Originally Posted by
nleksan
I am going to assume here, but I think Sean is saying that RAID, when properly implemented, is only one tier of a MULTI-TIERED system for backups.
To break it down...
RAID (mirror, parity, parity + striping, and striped+mirrored) should only be used as a first stop, in-machine, fast access pseudo backup.
You don't ever depend on a RAID array to keep data safe, but rather you utilize it as a temporary holding zone.
The data should be transferred to an external hard drive or NAS as quickly as possible, at which point any critical data exists in three locations but only 2 physical locations.
From there, any important data should be put on an external hard drive and/or (but really just and) one or ideally multiple thumb drives for critical data.
Keep the external drive in a safe, and keep the thumb drives off site (one in car, one at work, one at girlfriends house), rotating as needed.
Only then are you even somewhat safe.
If the data doesn't exist in at least three different PHYSICAL LOCATIONS, it doesn't exist.